excubo

ex-cŭbo, bŭi, bĭtum, 1, v. n., to lie or sleep out of doors.

I.

In gen. (rare but class.):

moniti Lacedaemonii, ut urbem et tecta linquerent armatique in agro excubarent,

Cic. Div. 1, 50, 112:

apes noctu deprehensae in expeditione excubant supinae,

Plin. 11, 8, 8, § 19.—

B.

Trop.:

Graeciam alienis sedibus,

Just. 8, 4, 7, v. Fittbogen ad h. l.—Far more freq.,

II.

In partic., to lie out on guard, to keep watch, to watch.

A.

Lit.:

duae semper legiones pro castris excubabant,

Caes. B. G. 7, 24, 5:

legiones in armis,

id. ib. 7, 11, 6:

legiones ad mare,

id. B. C. 3, 63, 6:

cohortes ad munitionem,

id. ib. 3, 50, 1:

legio per muros,

Verg. A. 9, 175:

excubitum in porta cohortes mittere,

Sall. J. 100, 4:

Cerberus excubat ante fores,

Tib. 1, 3, 72:

quae (naves) ad portum excubabant,

kept watch, Caes. B. C. 2, 22, 3 et saep.— Poet.:

(Cupido Chiae) Pulchris excubat in genis,

sits on the watch, lurks, Hor. C. 4, 13, 8.—Of things as subjects:

alni contra erumpentium amnium impetus riparum muro in tutela ruris excubant,

Plin. 16, 37, 67, § 173:

laurus ante limina excubat,

id. 15, 30, 39, § 127.—

B.

Trop., to watch, be watchful or vigilant, to be on the alert:

cum Caesar ad opus consuetudine excubaret, etc.,

Caes. B. G. 7, 24, 2:

in navibus,

id. B. C. 3, 8 fin.:

excubabo vigilaboque pro vobis,

Cic. Phil. 6, 7, 18:

sapiens semper animo sic excubat, ut nihil ei improvisum accidere possit,

id. Tusc. 4, 17, 37: curam rei publicae summae defendundae jam pridem apud vos excubare, is watchful, active, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 8, 5:

omnis eorum ars urbibus excubabat,

i. e. was concerned, labored for the cities, Plin. 35, 10, 37, § 118.— Pass. impers.:

rerum, non animi pretiis excubatur,

care is exercised, Plin. 35, 7, 32, § 50.